Sacred Heart University has been named a top college by Princeton Review’s Best 391 College Guidebook. For the last 30 years, the Princeton Review has ranked top colleges by highlighting institutions that excel in student life, campus resources and academics. SHU was ranked Top-25 in seven different categories, including Best College Theater and Best Campus Food.
Dan Passapera, Sacred Heart University
Counseling services have been named top 10 in the nation for student support, specifically for the commitment to mental health. The Maureen Hamilton Wellness Center is committed to supporting everyone in the SHU community by assisting students who may need extra support.
“The Wellness Center offers both individual counseling and group counseling free for full-time undergraduate students. For students who need an urgent appointment that cannot wait to be scheduled, same-day appointments are also available,” said James Geisler, executive director of Wellness Services.
“97 percent of students who receive services in the counseling center agree that they feel better than when they started counseling,” Geisler said. Students can utilize these resources by calling the wellness center’s phone number on the Sacred Heart website and making an appointment.
Sacred Heart’s dining services were ranked 25 for Best College Food. The university uses Chartwells to operate their dining halls. Chartwells’ motto, “Where Hungry Minds Gather,” highlights the company’s focus on providing dining services while also aiming to create a space for students to gather and connect.
“The students’ opinions are vital to our success,” said Danielle Bahr, marketing director for SHU Dining. “It’s talking to our students every day, ensuring they know we are here for them and listening that really drives what we do and how we respond. We take every comment seriously and work collaboratively to resolve concerns and use suggestions to continually enhance the dining experience on campus.”
Sacred Heart was also ranked 11 for Best College Theatre. Any student is allowed to participate in the Theater Arts Program (TAP) regardless of major and class year. Students can perform onstage as early as their freshman year.
Each year, TAP produces two main stage shows in the Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts and four smaller productions in the Little Theatre. SHU’s theatre arts facilities prepare students to apply the skills that they learn in the classroom and take it with them on stage or in any field of theatre.
“We give them the extra edge so they can go out and think, ‘Wait a minute, this is like Sacred Heart, except it’s just more people,’” said Jerry Goehring, executive director of Performing Arts. “We give them a taste of what the real world is like right here at Sacred Heart University.”
“I really enjoy attending productions. You can see their hard work and dedication from the audience,” said junior Madelyn Jones.
Goehring said that the recognition “validated everything that they’re doing and what they believe in.”
